Aib bbtjse



(No Model.) I.

0. C. WOLD.

AIR BRUSH. No. 595,931. Patented Dec. 21, 1897;

m: Noam: PETERS ca, mm), wumucmu, II, c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEETCE.

OLAUS C. WOLD, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO HENRY J. THAYER ANDCHARLES H. CHANDLER, OF SAME PLACE.

AIR-BRUSH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 595,931, dated December21, 1897.

Application filed March 1, 1897- To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OLAUS C. I/VOLD, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented a certain new and useful Improvement in Air-Brushes, (Case No.2,) of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exactdescription, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming apart of this specification.

My invention relates to artists brushes of the type generally known asair-brushes, in which the pigment is distributed by means of air underpressure. Such a device is illustrated in Patent No. 555,669, issued'tome March 3, 1896. r

My present invention has for its object the simplification andimprovement of the construction of the particular type of air-brushillustrated in my said patent.

In my improved form of air-brush the parts are readily assembled anddisassembled, their disposition and construction being such that severalof said parts may be readily interchanged or removed for repair withoutinterfering with the disposition of the remaining parts. By my improvedconstruction a more delicate and easy manipulation of the levermechanism is secured. In the air-brush of my said patent thelongitudinally-movable needle which controls the flow of the pigment hasfrictional engagement in its bearings through a considerable portion ofits length, which in course of time causes the needle to be worn,whereby its uniform direction of thrust is destroyed, which results inthe delicate point of the needle coming in contact with the seat of theconical passage in which the tapered end of the needle is adapted to fitand through which the flow of the pigment is controlled. If the needlebeenlarged considerably in cross-section, this wear may be considerablyreduced.

By means ofmy present invention I am enabled toform the needle of assmall cross-section as is desirable, since I relieve it of allfrictional engagement.

I will explain my invention more particularly by reference to theaccompanying drawings, in whioh Figure 1 is a side elevation, partiallyin sec Serial No. 625,572. (No model.)

tion, of a brush embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof.Fig. 3 is a sectionalview of a nozzle of the brush. Fig. 4 is a detailview showing the needle and a portion of the mechanism immediatelyassociated therewith. Fig. 5 is a detail view of the operating-lever.Fig. 6 is a detail view of a valvepin entering into the construction ofmy improved device. Fig. 7 is aplan view of a recessed nut associatedwith the valve-pin.

Like letters refer to like parts throughout the different figures.

The particular construction illustrated in Fig. 3 forms no part of mypresent invention; but in order that the application of my invention maybe readily understood I have thought it well to illustrate and describethis portion of the mechanism.

The needle a is surrounded by a sleeve b, whose cross-section is ofsquare exterior contour at the portion b thereof. The portion 12 of thesleeve is threaded. A cap-screw a is secured upon the portion 12 aset-screw a being passed through the cap-screw into engagement with theneedle, whereby the sleeve and needle are relatively fixed. The relativelongitudinal positions of the sleeve and needle are adjusted by theset-screw o The shell 0 is provided with. two plates or partitions cl d,slightly separated, and also with an end plate 6. The plates d d act asbearings for the forward portion of the sleeve b. A bearing-sleeve f ispassed through the end plate 6 and is secured thereto by threadedengagement. A cap f is screwed upon a threaded extension of thebearing-sleeve f, said cap being provided with a central opening throughwhich the contiguous portion of the sleeve b may be reciprocated.

A helical spring 9 is interposed between the adjustable cap f and theenlarged portion 19 of the sleeve 6. This spring tends to thrust theneedle toward the nozzle of the brush. The tensionof the spring may beadjusted by the cap f.

I preferably provide an annular shoulder f which bears against the rearface of the end plate 6 when the sleeve f is screwed into position.

I provide a back lever h, which engages the enlarged portion 11 of thesleeve 1) at b and which is adapted to be turned about its lower edge bythe lever i. The lever i is linked at z" to the knurled finger-plate iwhich is provided with an eye i ,which receives a guide i mounted uponthe end plate 6. The guide 1' serves to confine the finger-plate to thepath practically parallel with the axis of the needle. \Vhen thefinger-plate is thrust rearwardly, the sleeve 1) and the needle aremoved backward by the back lever 72, the spring 9 being counteracted inthis movement. The forward motion of the sleeveb and needle is limitedby the square portion b engaging with partition d. The full motion ofthe lever-plate is not imparted to the needle, however, since the needleis nearerthe fulcrum of the back lever.

By providing the link connection 1'' and engaging the lever z' with theback lever the backward motion of the finger-plate is accompanied by acomparatively much smaller motion of the needle during the beginning ofthe movement of the finger-plate than was possible with the device of myaforesaid patcut. I thus am enabled to govern the width of a fine spraywithin very close limits where a delicate adjustment is most needed.\Vhen the finger-plate is moved farther backward to produce largersprays, the relative motion of the needle becomes much larger, as willbe apparent on an inspection of the drawings, delicate adjustment beingnot here required. The air-brush being a very small instrument the valueof these features will be appreciated.

It is desirable to have-the travel of the finger-plate considerably inexcess of the travel of the needle actuated thereby,.since a verydelicate adjustment of the needle maybe had. By my construction thesleeve 1) relieves the needle of all wear. .As will be observed, aconsiderable portion of the length of this sleeve is engaged by thecontaining-sleeve f, whereby frictional wear is greatly reduced.

A stem k, carrying thevalve, is screwed into a boss 71;, pa sing throughand secured to the bottom portion of the shell 0. \Vithin the stem isprovided a valve-pin Z, (shown more clearly in Fig. 6,) having its upperend slotted for the reception of a pin 6 which unites the members of theforked end of the lever t, the pin 9 serving as an axis or fulcrum forsaid lever. The pin Z is provided with a shoulder Z, which may have itsupper surface faced with rubber. A coil-sprin g Z encircling the pin l,normally presses the shoulder Z against its valve-seat, the end of thespring resting against a nut l, screwed into the end of the stem. Thenut Z, as is shown more clearly in Fig. 7, is cut away at the sides topermit the access of air.

A second stem m is illustrated, which has a cup-shaped cavity at itsupper portion, in which is contained a cup-like portion m, mounted upona second valve-pin m similar to valve-pin Z, this valve-pin being alsoprovided with a shoulder m which may have its upper surface faced withrubber. the stems 7c and m are coupled, the cup-like portion m isdepressed against the tension of spring m so that air under pressure maybe conducted from the supply-hose on through a recessed nut on, similarto nut Z, to the airbrush through openings m in the portion m. hen thestems 7s and m are disunited, the shoulder m is seated, whereby waste ofcompressed air through the hose m is prevented when the air-brush is notbeing used.

Referring to Fig. 3, the shell 0 carries in its front end an internalthread, into which the end a of the head at is adapted to be screwed.This head carries an elongated portion or tube 01 in the end of which isscrewed the tip 0, formed, preferably, of platinum. This tip is providedwith a conical bore, into which the conical end of the needle is adaptedto fit. By moving the needle a forward the surface of the needle may bebrought into contact with the walls of the bore, thus sealing theoutlet. In practice, however, it is preferable to so adjust the needleinrelation to the sleeve 1) that the needle will never quite seal theoutlet. By moving the needle back to a greater or less extent thepassage between the needle and the bore may be adjusted as desired. Anannular passage is provided between tip 0 and the interior wall of thecap 19 for the exit of air. An annular groove 01 is provided in the endat of the head n, the groove communicating by a duct 72 with theair-chamber c. Ducts or extend through the head n, thus connecting thegroove n with the reservoir 1), provided between the head or and the cap19. Air thus passes from the chamber 0 through duct a, groove 91. andducts a into the reservoir 19, from whence it passes through an annularoutlet between the stem and the end of the cap, the air thus passing ina column surrounding the outlet for the paint, thus drawing the paintfrom the paint-receptacle. The paint is placed within the shell andrests upon the partition 0 which separates the paint-receptacle from theair-chamber. The air enters the chamber 0 through the (:1 net r,communicatin g with the bore of the stem 7a. The air is admitted by adownward pressure upon the lever i, the air finding passage to chamber athrough the duct 9".

In the construction hitherto employed a portion of the paint passedthrough the forward bearing of the needle andcame in contact With andinjured the operating mechanism of the brush. By providing the doublepartition (1 cl with a slight interspace between the same the paint thatis carried backward is caught between the partitions and is preventedfrom entering that portion of the shell 0 which contains the levermechanism. The paint that is accumulated between the partitionsbecomesdry and may be readily removed by a hooked tool inserted through thehole in either partition upon removing the tube or sleeve 1). The sleeveZ) is adapted to WVhen" reciprocate upon two separated bearings d f,between which the lever mechanism is interposed. The back lever engagesthe tube in place of engaging the needle, so that the removal of theneedle from the tube for purposes of cleaning the brush, which has to bedone four of five times each day, will not cause the separation of theparts of the lever mechanism.

It frequently becomes desirable to remove the stem is, which with theconstruction heretofore employed was not possible without first removingthe needle, but by extending the valve-pin l above the stem and slottingthe same I free the engagement of the lever 11 with the stem, wherebythe stem may be readily screwed into place or removed withoutinterfering with the said lever, while at the same time the air iscontrolled with equal facility. It will be apparent also that the needlemay be readily removed with but slight trouble and without interferingwith the condition of the lever mechanism or valve-pin.

Changes may be readily made in my invention without departing therefrom,and I do not therefore desire to be limited to the precise constructionshown; but,

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, the following:

1. In an air-brush, the combination with a casing adapted to contain thepaint and having an outlet therefor, of a needle for controlling thesize of the outlet and thereby the flow of the paint, a reciprocatingfinger-plate 7?, means for guiding the same in a path practicallyparallel with the needle, and suitable mechanism intervening between theplate and needle for imparting longitudinal motion to the needle,substantially as described.

2. In an air-brush, the combination with a needle for controlling theemission of paint from the brush, of a finger-plate & supporting an eye2' a guide t engaging said eye, and suitable mechanism interveningbetween said plate and needle for imparting longitudinal motion to theneedle upon the actuation of the finger-plate, substantially asdescribed.

3. In an air-brush, the combination with a casing adapted to contain thepaint and having an outlet therefor, of a needle for controlling thesize of the outlet and thereby the flow of the paint, a reciprocatingfinger-plate 4?, means for guiding the same in a path practicallyparallel with the needle, a lever 2' fulcrumed at its lower end andlinked at t" to the plate i and a back lever h fulcrumed at its loweredge and engaging lever '6 near the portion 1', said back lever beingadapted to impartlongitudinal mot-ion to the needle when actuated,substantially as described.

4:. In an air-brush, the combination with a casing adapted to containthe paint and having an outlet therefor, of separated bearings d and f,a sleeve 17 supported by said bearings, a back lever engaging the sleeveinterposed between the bearings for imparting longitudinal motion tothesleeve, said bearings serving to direct the sleeve in a uniform lineof travel, and a needle removably secured to said sleeve for controllingthe size of the outlet and thereby the flow of the paint,whereby saidneedle may be withdrawn without disorganizing the mechanism,substantially as described.

5. In an air-brush, the combination with a casing adapted to contain thepaint and having an outlet therefor, of separated bearings df, asleeve 1) supported by said bearings, means for imparting longitudinalmotion to the sleeve, said bearings serving to direct the sleeve in auniform line of travel, and a needle removably secured to said sleevefor controlling the size of the outlet and thereby the flow of thepaint, said needle being thus freed from sliding contactwithbearing-surfaces, substantially as described.

6. In an air-brush, the combination with a needle for controlling theemission of paint, a sleeve 12 secured to said needle, a bearingsleeve fin which the sleeve 6 is adapted to reciprocate, a cap-screw f uponsleeve f, a

spring 9 tending to thrust the sleeve 17 and needle in one direction,and means for thrusting said needle and sleeve 19 in the otherdirection, substantially as described.

7. In an air-brush, the combination with a casing adapted to contain thepaint and having an outlet therefor, of a needle for controlling thesize of the outlet and thereby the flow of the paint, a reciprocatingfinger-plate '6 means for guiding the same in a path practicallyparallel with the needle, a valve for regulating the admission of airunder pressure to said casing, a'reciprocating pin Zprojecting from thevalve, and a lever a linked at 2" at its upper end to the plate 2' andengaging the pin lat its lower end, substantially as described.

8. In an air-brush, the combination with a casing, of separated bearings.01 f, a sleeve adapted to be longitudinally reciprocated in saidbearings, a fingerplate '5 means for guiding the same in a pathpractically parallel with the needle, a back lever h engaging the sleevefor imparting longitudinal motion thereto, a lever 't' linked at t" tothe finger plate, said back lever engaging lever 4 near the portion i, avalve for controlling the admission of air to the casing, and avalve-pin extending therefrom and engaging the lower end of lever 2',substantially as described.

In witness whereof I hereunto subscribe my name this 25th day ofFebruary, A. D. 1897.

OLAUS O. WOLD. Witnesses:

GEORGE L. CRAGG, A. L. LAWRENCE,

